Stand for supporting washtubs, table tops, and the like



H. A. HANSEN STAND FOR SUPPORTINQWASHTUBS, TABLE TOPS, AND THE LIKE Pt. 20, 1921. p 1 643,271

- Fil d, M r h 15. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet;

H. A. HANSEN STAND FOR SUPPORTING WASHTUBS, TABLE TOPS, AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March '15. 1926 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

i ,1,e43,271 v PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. HANSEN, OF STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN.

swam) FOR SUPPORTING WASHTUBS, TABLE TOPS, AND THE LiKE.

Application filed March 15, 1926. Serial no. 94,920.

This invention primarily relates to stands for supporting washtubs,table tops and the like; it has especial reference to the so-called collapsible or folding type of stand; and it involves certain unique features.

An object of the invention'is to rovi-de a stand of the kind specified which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low figure and which, at the same time, is of simple construction and conveniently handle The main object of the invention is to provide a folding stand which, in use, will be entirely stable by reason of its construction and the assemblage of its parts; and which, also, includes means for adjusting the supporting components so that the plane at which the tub is to be supported may be raised orl-owered, and tubs of various diameters may be mounted and effectually held. Withal, the components of which the structure is made are such as to be folded into compact form for shipment, storage, etc. I

In order that the invention may more readily be comprehended, I have herein revealed the same in three embodiments; it being understood, however, that these are illustrative, that the structure may be otherwise embodied or utilized, and that the illustrated embodiments are susceptible of a wide range of modification and variation without departing from the spirit of my inventive-concept or sacrificing any of the underlying princi-. ples or salient features thereof.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a folding stand with my inventive-concept embodied therein and with a tub or the like indicated in dotted lines in the position it occupies when sustained by'the stand;

Figure 2 is a View in elevation of the stand showing the parts in full lines for supporting the tub in one position and, in dotted lines, the position of those parts whenadjusted to support the tub in a lower plane, or a tub of a different diameter;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the. stand when folded; 'Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, in sectional elevation and on a large scale, of a. device for adjusting the components of the structure;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective, and somewhat fragmentary, of an'element forminga part of'the adjusting device;

' Figure 6 is a view, in perspective, of another embodiment of my invention, being a modification of land 2; v

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a component of the adjusting device of the stand shown in Fig. 6; and

Figure 8 is a similar View of another em bodiment comprising, in this instance, three supporting legs instead of four, as in the other two embodiments;

Referring to the drawings, and'to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the referencecharacter 1 designates a tub or similar receptacle to be mounted in my improved stand. p

This stand,'preferably and as shown in Fig. 1, for instance, includes four supporting legs or'elements 2, made of any appropriate material and of required form and dimensions. Each of these, adjacent its upper end, is provided with a series of'notches 3, in one or another of'which the tub 1 is adapted to be seated and by which it is held.

Disposed between the set of legs, and preferably intermediate of their ends, is a pivotblock or element 4, shown in this instance as square and provided with a'boss 5 up standing from its upper surface. Each leg is pivotall secured, as by a screw or headed pin 6, totlie block and on which it fulcrums in being adjusted from its closed position, shown in Fig. 3, to its open position, shown in Figs. 1 and I Threaded into the pivot-element 4 is an adjusting-member or screw 7, provided on itsupper end, preferably and as shown, with a rounded head 8. The screw is preferably knurled, as at 9, to facilitate its rotative movement. p Pivotally or otherwise connected, as at 10, to each leg, abovethe plane of the pivotblock 4, is a link 11 which, at its opposite end, is pivoted to a link-connecting element. or block 12' which, in this instance, is shown the structure shown in' Figs.

as square, as being stamped into shape, and 'i as provided, at each of" its corners, with a cut-out or slot 13 constituting what I shall herein calla link-guiding and link-locking instrumentality; it being seen that each link 11 extends from its pivot-point 14 in tl1eelementlQ through its respective cut-out 13, and that it is free to move therein though, by reason of the dimension of the cut-out, the

link is guided by its engagement with the side wall 15 of the block and the edge 16 of the cut-out. The height of the block 12 such as to permit its movement to a considerable degree without moving the link out of position in the cut-out.

As shown in Fig. 5, the block is provided witha centralaperture 17 of diametral dimensions less than the head 8 so that, as

shown for instance in Fig. 4, "the headmay engage inthe aperture 17 when the block is seated in operative relation with respect to the ELLljllSClllg-lllGDlbGfl. l

It is to be understood that where I have herein used the term link, it refers to any appropriate connecting element, such as an arm or similar instrumentality,adapted to connect the block with a supporting leg and facilitate the adj ustmeht of theleg with respect to the other parts of the structure,

More readily to accommodate the block or element 12 when the stand is folded, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper extremities of the legs are cut away at one side, as at 18.

V Operation: l or packing, storage, shipping, etc., the stand would be folded or collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3. In this situation, the connectingelement 12 will occupy a position adjacent the upper extremities of the legs and in the cut-outslS in the upper ends of the legs; and the links will then occupy an approximately vertical position and parallel with the legs, which also will be substantially parallel to each other. In this 190- position when the legsare spread to their limit and the connecting-block 12 OCCllPlBS its lowermost position. If, however, itbe desired to position a tub in a higher plane, the parts are adjusted, through the screw 7, so as to raise the connecting-block 12 to a higher plane and, through this and the links, the legs will be adjusted relatively so that their upper extremities will be brought closer together. The notches 3 are in series so that, if the positionof the parts is such that'one set of notches on the several legs is not at the right plane, the tub can be placed in the set of notches in the next higher or lower plane. At first, an approximate positioning of the tub in the notches iseft'ected so that the proper notches will be selectively engaged with the periphery of the tub. Then,

i by means of the adjusting device,the legs are adjusted so that the walls ofthe notches will bind hard against the tub and secure the tub firmly in position on the stand, as shown inFigi 2. ,During themovelnent of these parts, the links 11 operate in the cut-outs or 1 lots 13 and, as already described, are guid d thereby.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a modified structure, this-involving-a reversal ofthe position 7 of the components constituting the adjusting-device. In other words, the link-connecting block 19 occupies, in this instance, a position below the plane of the pivot-block 20 on which the lugs 21 are pivoted. In

consequence, the links 22 are pivotally attached to the legs below the plane of their attachment to the block- 20 instead of above it, as in the embodiment first described; By reason of this reversal of the parts, the adjustingscrew 23 is swiveled in the block 19 so that when the screw .23is rotated, it, by reason of being threaded through the block 20,, will raise or lower theblock 19, as the case may be; this in turn will operate the links 22; and this will, then, adjust the legs toward or away from each othertodiminish or increase the. space between the sets of notches 2d at the upper ends of the legs to acconmiodate tubs of varlous diameters or to position a tub of selected diameter in a. 2

higher or lower plane, as desired. a

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 differs from, the two already described in that those, as shown, include four legs 01 supports; whereas, this embodiment, there are only three legs25, which are pivoted, as atQ2G, on a triangular-shaped block 27 in which isthreaded an adj usting-serew 28 provided'at its upper end with a rounded head (notshown) adapted toengage with an apertured, triangulanshaped block or eleinent29,to which links 30 are pivoted, these i also being pivoted, as at 31, to the upper ends of: the legs. These latter are provided with notches 32 to receive and hold the lower edge of a tub or the like, asalready explained in respect to the otherembodiments. U "The block 29 is provided with slots or cut outs'f33 to guide andlock the links 30.

From theforegoing, it will be understood that, by reason of the provision of the linkconnecting element and the components connected "thereto and l operated thereby, these instrumentalities constitute not onlyan effective means for adjusting the legs to any required extent and to maintain them rigidly in the position to which they are adjusted; but, also, may constitute an additional support for the bottom of the tab. In other words, if the plane of the block 12 is adjusted coincident with that of the bottom of the tub, thelatter mayjrlest thereon and be additionally supported by the same. The

a stand of this character. When the block 12 is in its lowered position, the links will occupy a position at the top of the slotsmarked 13 in Fig. 5, for instance-and bear against the wall 15 and the edge 16 of the slots, as already described. Thus, there would be a three-point engagement between each link and the block. Even when the block 12 is in a' higher plane and the link is not in engagement with the top of the slot, it will, nevertheless, be held rigid by its sliding engagement with the inside surface of the wall 15 and the edge 16 of the slot.

It is a particular desideratum of my structure that a fine degree of adjustment shall be possible so that the legs may be clamped hard against the outer wall of the tub and thereby firmly hold the latter in position on the stand. The, adjusting screw, its engagement with the block 12, and the coaction between the block and the ;legs through the links 11, all contribute to this desirable result. I believe I am the first to provide for an adjusting device of the character herein revealed whereby these desirable results are achieved.

It will be seen that, notwithstanding the presence in the structure of the adjusting device, the arrangement thereof with respect to the legs is such as to permit the stand, as

a whole, to be folded into small compass.

What I claim is: I

1. A folding-stand including a plurality of supporting-legs, a pivot-block between the legs and to which the legs are pivotally attached, links pivoted to the legs, a block to which the links are connected and having link-receiving cut-outs, and an adjustingmember threaded into the pivot-block and engageable with the block to which the links are connected.

2. A folding-stand including a plurality of supporting-legs, a pivot-block to which each leg is pivoted intermediate its ends, links pivoted to the legs, a block to which the links are connected alining vertically with but disposed in a plane'dilferent from the pivot-block, and an adjusting-member threaded into one of theblocks and engage able with the other to vary their relation.

3. A folding-stand including a plurality of supporting-legs, a pivot-b1ock between I the-legs and pivotally attached thereto, links pivoted to the legs, a block to which the links are connected having a central aperture and link receiving and guiding cutouts, and an adjusting-member threaded into the pivot-block and having a head on its other end for engagement in said aperture.

' HENRY A. HANSEN.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature. 

